Currents

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jo Ann Emerson thanked President Barack Obama for signing into law a new efficiency standard for large-capacity water heaters deployed in demand response programs. Emerson also welcomed the Senate and House focusing on additional energy efficiency legislation. “Co-ops have been in the business of saving members money for […]

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) joined with the U.S. Department of Energy, other federal ­agencies and ­utility trade organizations in ­launching the Utility Industry Workforce Initiative. The focus of the initiative is to recruit and train ­service ­members, veterans and military spouses to qualify for high-skilled jobs in the utility industry. “Line crews […]

The Supreme Court in late June told the EPA it had to consider the cost of implementing its 2012 Mercury Air Toxics Standard (MATS). Justice Antonin Scalia said that in drafting the 2012 rule the EPA “gave cost no thought at all, because it considered cost irrelevant to its initial ­decision to regulate.” National Rural Electric Cooperative […]

Sarah Hempen from Columbia, Ill. was awarded a scholarship from the Glenn English National Cooperative Leadership Foundation. Hempen represented Monroe County Electric Co-Operative on the 2012 Youth Tour. Formed in 2013, the foundation honors former National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Glenn English by awarding scholarships to former Youth Tour participants who have shown […]

“We’re looking for utility-scale solar that could include single or multiple arrays in our service ­territory,” said Katie Thomson, Senior Communications Specialist for La Crosse-based Dairyland Power Cooperative. “Multiple sites could offer an advantage in regard to weather ­conditions across the region.” The G&T is diversifying its ­generation portfolio with projects that provide affordable and reliable […]

Talk about energy! Take 1,660 high school students from across the Co-op Nation, bring them to Washington, D.C. in mid-June and have them talk to their state’s senators and ­representatives. Listening to that conversation will get you energized and excited about our future. This event, sponsored by the electric and telephone cooperatives of Illinois and […]

It’s farmers market season. For both farmers market vendors, as well as those shopping at the markets, the issue of prices can be of interest. So where to begin? The University of Illinois Extension, working in collaboration with the University of Kentucky’s Center for Crop Diversification, started compiling price reports for farmers markets last year. […]

Consumer-members of not-for-profit electric ­cooperatives are more satisfied with their utility services than customers of investor-owned (IOU) or ­municipal utilities, according to the 2015 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Touchstone Energy® ­cooperatives have consistently held the top ACSI ­ranking, receiving a score of 80 this year. IOUs and municipals scored 74 and 73 respectively. Across […]

State Fair Manager Patrick Buchen says the theme for the 2015 Illinois State Fair is Growing Illinois. “Growing Illinois” is an all-­encompassing theme that goes well beyond the rows in a cornfield. It speaks to the hard ­working men and women in Illinois who help feed and clothe this great nation, ­ultimately growing the State’s […]

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is encouraging ­farmers and agri­chemical ­facilities to save their empty agrichemical containers. The department announced it has arranged to recycle them. Beginning at the end of July and continuing in August, sites throughout the state will collect containers. The ­containers will be recycled to make shipping pallets, fence posts, ­drainage […]